Small Buds (Smalls) at The Library
The short answer
Smalls are whole cannabis buds that are just smaller, usually because they grew lower on the plant. On our menu on October 26, 2026, the Small Buds shelf had Field Trip Ztopia smalls: 5g for $59.99, about $12.00 a gram.
- Not shake: smalls are whole, cured buds. Shake and trim are loose bits and leaf, sold on their own shelf.
- Potency is on the label: bud size doesn't set THC. Our smalls jar listed THC 26% on the menu.
- Not always the cheapest: on October 26, 2026 one eighth and one bag of ground flower cost less per gram.
- Stock changes: open the shelf or call before you come in. 21+ with a valid ID.
What are smalls in weed?
Smalls are the small, whole flowers a cannabis plant grows alongside its big ones. The largest buds (colas) form at the top of the plant, where the most light reaches. Buds on the lower branches get less light and stay smaller. Many stores sort them out and sell them as their own product.
They go by several names. Stores call them smalls, small buds, minis, popcorn buds or popcorn nugs, because many are about the size of a piece of popcorn. Leafly uses a separate word, larf, for small, wispy buds that never fully developed.
Want to know how a plant is built, from cola to sugar leaf? See our guide to cannabis plant anatomy.
Smalls vs. big buds, shake and ground flower
Our online menu splits flower into shelves. Here is what each kind is and where to find it.
| Kind | Where on our menu |
|---|---|
| Whole flower (big buds)The larger, full-size flowers, often from the top of the plant. Sold by weight, most often as a 3.5g eighth. | Whole Flower and Premium shelves |
| Small buds (smalls)Whole, intact flowers that are simply smaller, often from lower on the plant. Also called popcorn buds or popcorn nugs. | Small Buds shelf |
| Shake and trimShake is the loose bits that fall off flower in handling; trim is the leaf and flower bits cut away when buds are shaped. Not whole buds. | Shake / Trim shelf |
| Ground flowerFlower that is sold already ground, ready to roll or pack. | Listed under Flower |
Prefer it already rolled? Our pre-rolls page covers joints, infused pre-rolls and multi-packs.
Are smalls cheaper? The price per gram on our menu
Often, but not always. Here is every flower item on our menu on October 26, 2026, sorted by price per gram (shelf price divided by grams). One members-only item is left out.
| Item | Size | Price | Per gram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillview Hi-flyer ground flowerGround flower | 7g | $46.99 | $6.71 |
| Blackbag Gummy BearsWhole Flower shelf | 3.5g | $25.00 | $7.14 |
| Field Trip Ztopia smallsSmall Buds shelf | 5g | $59.99 | $12.00 |
| Grasshopper Farms Kush CakeFlower | 3.5g | $45.99 | $13.14 |
| Stereo Flower: PB Shakedown, Neon Flyer, JamrockFlower; PB Shakedown is listed on the Shake / Trim shelf | 3.5g | $46.99 | $13.43 |
| Kai: Zour Guava, Government Oasis, Facetz, Bubble Lime; Loud Stash Blue VenomFlower | 3.5g | $49.99 | $14.28 |
| Kai Bobby BrownFlower | 7g | $99.99 | $14.28 |
| Kai Modified Banana Pebbles; Kai Bobby BrownFlower; Modified Banana Pebbles is on the Premium shelf | 3.5g | $59.99 | $17.14 |
What this shows: the smalls jar cost less per gram than every 3.5g jar but one. A 7g bag of ground flower and one $25.00 eighth cost less still. So smalls can save money, but check the per-gram price on the day you buy. Prices are as listed on the menu that evening and change often.
More on what flower costs in New Jersey: our NJ cannabis pricing guide.
Why are smalls cheaper, and do they get you less high?
Why cheaper: mostly looks. Leafly calls small buds B-grade buds that lack the bag appeal of large ones, and Claybourne Co. says many shoppers assume bigger is better. Some sellers add that smalls carry fewer and thinner stems.
Strength: size alone doesn't tell you, and sources disagree. Claybourne Co. says smalls of a strain can match its big buds. Leafly says popcorn buds are on par with, or slightly lower than, top buds from the same producer. Green Goods says they may run slightly lower in potency and terpenes, depending on the strain and how it was grown.
The way to compare is the label. New Jersey's labeling rules require each package to show its total THC, and many menus list TAC too. Effects differ from person to person.
How to read those numbers: TAC vs THC on a New Jersey label.
Dispensary smalls vs. "THCA small buds" sold online
Search for small buds and most results are online shops selling hemp THCA flower by mail. That is not the same product as the smalls on a New Jersey dispensary shelf.
- The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission says that since April 13, 2026, products over 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container no longer count as hemp in New Jersey. They count as cannabis and fall under the state's cannabis laws.
- Smalls at The Library are licensed cannabis, sold in person to adults 21+ with an ID, with the label New Jersey requires.
- Federal hemp rules are changing too. Dates and details: the federal hemp THC ban and New Jersey.
What's bigger than an eighth?
Flower is sold by weight. These are the usual sizes, smallest first.
- Eighth
- 3.5g
- The most common jar size on our menu
- Five grams
- 5g
- The size of the smalls jar on our menu on October 26, 2026
- Quarter
- 7g
- Two eighths
- Half ounce
- 14g
- Four eighths
- Ounce
- 28.35g
- The New Jersey limit for flower in one purchase
New Jersey lets an adult buy up to 1 ounce (28.35 grams) of flower in one purchase.
Using smalls: less breaking up
Because smalls are already small, there is less to break apart before they go into a grinder, a paper or a bowl. That is the main practical difference people mention.
- Rolling your own: how to roll a joint.
- Keeping them fresh: how to store cannabis.
- Strain notes: our Blue Dream guide covers the smalls format of one strain.
Get smalls at The Library
- Open the Small Buds shelf and see what is in stock.
- Add to cart and order ahead for pickup.
- Come in with a valid government-issued ID (21+).
5 Washington Street, West Orange, NJ 07052. Free on-site parking.
- Monday to Wednesday
- 9 AM–8 PM
- Thursday to Saturday
- 9 AM–9 PM
- Sunday
- 10 AM–5 PM
New Jersey rules when you buy
- 21 or older, New Jersey resident or visitor.
- Bring a valid government-issued ID.
- Up to 1 ounce (28.35 grams) of flower per purchase.
- Use on private property; owners and landlords can limit it. No driving while impaired.
- Never take cannabis across state lines.
First time at a dispensary? Read the first-visit guide.
Small buds questions
What do smalls mean in weed?
Smalls are small whole cannabis flowers. They usually grow lower on the plant, where less light reaches, so they stay smaller than the buds at the top. They are still whole, cured buds, not loose shake or leaf trim.
What's the difference between smalls and popcorn buds?
Usually none. Smalls, small buds, popcorn buds and popcorn nugs are names stores use for the same thing: whole buds that are about the size of a piece of popcorn or smaller. Leafly also uses the word larf for small, wispy buds that never fully developed, which some growers separate out.
Are smalls the same as shake?
No. Smalls are whole buds. Shake is the loose bits that fall off flower in handling, and trim is the leaf and flower bits cut away when buds are shaped. Our menu lists Small Buds and Shake / Trim as separate flower shelves.
Why are smalls cheaper?
Mostly because of size and looks. Small buds don't have the bag appeal of large buds, so growers and stores often price them lower per gram. They are not always the cheapest flower on a menu, so compare the price per gram.
Do smalls get you less high?
Size alone doesn't tell you. Some sources say smalls match the big buds of the same strain; Leafly says they are on par with or slightly lower than top buds from the same producer. New Jersey labels must show total THC, so compare labels, not bud size. Effects differ from person to person.
Is buying smalls worth it?
It depends on the price per gram that day. On October 26, 2026 our smalls jar was 5g for $59.99, about $12.00 a gram. That was less per gram than every 3.5g jar on the menu but one ($25.00, about $7.14 a gram). A 7g bag of ground flower was lower still, at about $6.71 a gram.
What's bigger than an 8th of weed?
An eighth is 3.5 grams. Bigger sizes are 5 grams (the size of our smalls jar on October 26, 2026), a quarter (7 grams), a half ounce (14 grams) and an ounce (28.35 grams). In New Jersey, 1 ounce of flower is the most you can buy in one purchase.
Does The Library sell small buds?
Small Buds is a shelf on our online menu. On October 26, 2026 it held one product: Field Trip Ztopia smalls, Indica, THC 26% on the menu, 5g for $59.99. Stock changes, so open the Small Buds shelf or call (862) 415-1353 before you come in.
Can I order smalls ahead for pickup?
Yes, if they are on the menu. Add them to your cart on our online menu, then pick them up at 5 Washington Street, West Orange, NJ 07052. Bring a valid government-issued ID; you must be 21 or older.
Sources
Menu items, sizes, THC figures and prices were read from our online menu on the evening of October 26, 2026; the menu changes, so check it for today's stock. Other facts were checked the same day. Store details (address, hours, phone) are The Library's own.
- The Library's online menu: Small Buds shelf (read on October 26, 2026)
- Leafly: What are popcorn cannabis buds?
- Leafly: What is larf cannabis and what is it good for?
- Claybourne Co.: What does smalls at a dispensary mean?
- Green Goods: What are popcorn buds and are they worth it?
- NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission: recreational (adult-use) cannabis
- NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission: intoxicating hemp FAQ
- NJ CRC Packaging and Labeling Guide addendum (February 2025): total THC on the label
- N.J.A.C. 17:30-17.2: cannabis advertising requirements
The Library of New Jersey, 5 Washington Street, West Orange, NJ 07052, is licensed by the State of New Jersey: NJ Cannabis Retail License RE000228. For adults 21+ only.
This product contains cannabis. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product, including for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning on becoming pregnant. Do not drive a motor vehicle or operate heavy machinery while using this product.